Taiwan has issued a draft regulation proposing maximum residue limits for four major PFAS—PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS—in high-risk food categories such as meat, aquatic products, and eggs.
On December 29, 2025, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) published the Draft Handling Regulation for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Foods for public consultation. The draft sets proposed limits on the presence of these four PFAS in selected high-risk foods to strengthen food safety controls and minimize consumer exposure. Stakeholders may submit comments to katty@fda.gov.tw within 60 days of the announcement.
1. Substances Covered
The draft regulation focuses on four widely recognized PFAS for which dietary risk assessments have been established at the international level:
-
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), CAS No. 1763-23-1
-
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), CAS No. 335-67-1
-
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), CAS No. 375-95-1
-
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), CAS No. 355-46-4
2. Proposed Maximum Levels
The proposal introduces defined maximum levels (MLs) for each individual PFAS as well as for their combined total. These limits apply to the sum of all linear and branched isomers, irrespective of chromatographic resolution. Concentrations are expressed in μg/kg on a wet-weight basis, with the applicable limits for major food categories outlined in the table below.
|
Food Category |
PFOS |
PFOA |
PFNA |
PFHxS |
Sum of the Four PFAS |
|
Muscle of cattle, pigs and poultry |
0.3 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
1.3 |
|
Muscle of sheep |
1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
1.6 |
|
Edible offal of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry |
6 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
8 |
|
Muscle of other wild animals (excluding bears) |
5 |
3.5 |
1.5 |
0.6 |
9 |
|
Edible offal of other wild animals (excluding bears) |
50 |
25 |
45 |
3 |
50 |
|
The following specified fish (excluding raw materials for infant foods): Baltic herring, Bonito, Burbot, European sprat, Flounder, Grey mullet, Horse mackerel, Pike, Plaice, Sardine and pilchard, Seabass, Sea catfish, Sea lamprey, Tench, Vendace, Silverly lightfish, Wild salmon and wild trout, Wolf fish |
7 |
1 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
8 |
|
The following specified fish (excluding raw materials for infant foods): Anchovy, Babel, Bream, Char, Eel, Pike-perch, Perch, Roach, Smelt, Whitefish |
35 |
8 |
8 |
1.5 |
45 |
|
Fish other than those listed above; all fish raw materials used for infant foods |
2 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
2 |
|
Edible muscle of crustaceans (including appendage muscles, excluding cephalothorax) |
3 |
0.7 |
1 |
1.5 |
5 |
|
Edible muscle of bivalve molluscs |
3 |
0.7 |
1 |
1.5 |
5 |
|
Eggs |
1 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
3. Enforcement Measures and Penalties
According to the draft regulation, food products exceeding the prescribed PFAS thresholds will be deemed to contain toxic or health-hazardous substances. Products that fail to comply will be subject to stringent enforcement actions, including:
-
Product disposal: Mandatory seizure and destruction of food items found to exceed the established limits.
-
Preventive controls: Food products suspected of originating from the same contamination source may be temporarily detained for investigation, with restrictions lifted if no food safety risks are identified.
-
Risk communication: Relevant information will be made public when necessary to safeguard consumer interests or address potential food safety concerns.
Overall, the draft underscores Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening regulatory control over PFAS in food products. Although the proposed limits are still under consultation, stakeholders are encouraged to proactively conduct risk assessments and enhance testing programs and supply chain oversight.
